To ask the Scottish Executive whether graduating students will have less debt following the implementation of its new student support schemes; what the reasons are for the position on this matter, and what the is of the number of students that will benefit in each academic year to 2007-08.

The rates of student loan support and the thresholds for parental or spouse contributions have been set in such a way that no graduating student should have more debt under the new student support arrangements than they would have had under the previous system. Almost all young students are expected to have less debt under the new arrangements.

The number of students who will benefit from the new arrangements in each academic year to 2007-08 will depend upon the numbers applying to undertake higher education courses. The extent to which each will benefit from the new arrangements will depend upon their personal circumstances.